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    December 25, 1852.] THE LEADER. l^9

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    PASSAGES FROM A BOY'S EPIC. XV. OLYMPUS....

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    . ' ,. ' , , , , . , \ Nq. V- : ' ' ¦¦ ;...

    the same end , we allow the head to lean somewhat on one side . Both these attitudes are imitated in sculpture as elements of grace . Turning from attitudes to movements , bur current remarks will he found to imply the same relationship . No one po ises as graceful aWalk that is irregular and jerking ,, and so displays waste of power j no one sees any beauty in the waddle of a fat man , or the trembling steps of , an invalid ^ in both of which effort is visible ; but tbestyle of ; walking we admire is . moderate in velocity ; perfectly i 4 iythmical , unaccompanied by violent swinging of the arms ^ and giving us the perception that there is no conscious' exertion , and , at the same time , that there is no force thrown away , —that there is as much muscular action used as is needful , and no more . In dancing , again , the prevailing aiificulty-T--the proper , disposaj , of' the ; hands aiiil arnjs , well illustrates the same truth . Those , who fail in overcpniingthisdifficulty ,

    give the spectator the impression that their arms are a trouble , to ; jthem ;; they are held stiffly in some meaningless attitude , at an obvions expense of power ; they are checked from swinging in the direction in which they would naturally swing ; or they are so mbvec | , that , instead of helping ; to maintain t ] ie equilibrium , they endanger it . A good danfcbr ^ on the con _ traiy , makes us . fel that , so fai from the . arms beingin the way , they are of great use . Each motion , of them , whilst it . saeems naturally to : result ; from a previous motion of thebody , is turned to some , advantage ; = we perceive that it has facilitated instead of hindered the general action ? or , in other

    • words—that an economy , of effort has been achieved . Any , one wishinig'to distinctly realize tliis fact , ' may readily do so by Studying the action of the arms i ff walking- Let him place , his arms close to , his ' sides , and , tlie ' keep them , ^ ilst , walking withi § pn > Q rapidity ,, , lie , will irnfn ^ aiieJorfiiid himself obliged to fall into a backward and forward motion ] of , ^ the shpnlders , of a wriggling , ungraceful character .. After , iperseverinlg in this for a space , until he finds , as . he ; will > jo ,. t haj ; , the -actiqn is not only ungraceful , but fatiguing , let him suddenly allow his arms to swing as , , usuaL The

    wriggling of the shoulders will cease , the , body wUl be found ; to move equably forward , and comparative ease will be felt . If inclined to pursue the inquiry further , he may . perceive , that the motion backward of each arm is simultaneouswith the forward motion of the corresponding leg ; and , if he will attend to his muscular sensations , he will find—what if a mathematician he will recognise . as ; a consequence of the law , that action and re-action are equal and opposite , —that this backward movement of the it is

    arm is a counterbalance to the forward movement of the leg , and that easier to produce this counterbalance by moving the arm , than by contorting the body , as he otherwise must do . * The action of the arms in walking being thus understood , it will be readily perceived that the graceful employment of them in dancing is simply a complication of the same thing ; and that a good dancer is one having so acute a muscular Sense as at once to feel in what direction the arms should be moved , to most readily counterbalance each su ' c ^& rive motion of the body or legs / and to thus facilitate instead of hindef Jbe general action . ?'• .

    This relationship between gracefulness and economy of force will be at Once recognised by ^ th ' ose who skate : They will remember that all their early attempts , and especially their first timid experiments in figureskating , were alike awkward arid fatiguing ; and ' that the acquirement of skill VVas rtlsti the •' acquirement of ease . The requisite confidence , and a due command of the feet having been obtaineMl , those twistings of the trunk and gyrations of the arms , which are previously needful'to ' iriaintain the balance , are found needless ; the body is allowed to follow without control the impulse given to it , the arms to swing where they will ,- and it is clearly felt , that tlie graceful way of performing any evolution is the way that costs least effort . Lookers-on can Scarcely fail to sec the same truth ,

    if * they " look for it . '•' Perhaps there is no case in \ vliieh they inity so distinctly perceive that the ' movhticihts they call graceful , are those which fulfil a given end' with"the smiillbjii ; ^ x petidithre of fVVvce . The reference trt ¦ Seating su ^ catsj that gracefu l motion tnig ht be defined as motion' in curved lines . ' Certainly , straight Muc'seig-KAg movements » n ; excluded' fVdrri ' the' conception . The sudden st < i « pages , the irregularities which iiifgttla ' r moVemcrits imply , are its ^ ihtJthcsiS ; ' for Pleading element of grace Ls' ^ Jtitirinity , flowiiighess . ' It will be found , however , that this is lilcrely anther aspect of Ine ' iiamc fact ; 'rind that Motion iu < mrved ¦ lines is economical' motion , "i GiVcii cc ' rtaiii sucwssrve' positions trt'lw ? assumed by 1

    a limb , then 1 iff it he inoVikl in a straight lineto the first of tiutae positions , suddenly' nrto & ted , fold then moved in "Mother direction straight trt' the second position , iM so on , it is cleiir that at , each nrrcst'the moinemtnin previously' ' given tb ' the 1 Mb ' must be ihisfcroyed at a certain coat of force , and a ni-vv monleutum given to it lit n further cost « f l ' or « e ; ¦ tvlioreasj if instead of arresting the limb at its first position , ' its uuWion be , '¦ allowed' 10 ^ lA , ] MirtiH < il ii u- ! l 1 , lurUu ) hlMh « : « Iul . i ;» K ^ iH , ^ uiy .. lM > «»» VH W , Jt- l « o « m | otiyo wigi / ic ,, <> n looking at , tln >(< lrivin <« - vyjiocl , « . )»» -ro will b <> loujn' IxjhuIuh Ilu > 1 ) ons to winch tho < : < miu ?« : tine rotf iMHt . W ( -hc ( l ; Hf ( ) n-k- ! l »<) lu ' lin rVr \ iif ) H (> f ihhliil 611 tlj >» AippoHith ' nIfKr ^ i' Ilia Whfiv . l , mid ft < iui ( liHla » U ; l ' n'iHi tlio < -o » l : i ^} < n \ if l , b «» eu « -J «» bu lono . huvitifj- rii » ei ( Ioi < -yli | icl <« VH , lllu > u « U li >«) ki w , lml . wfci . 1 , Mm ) N 1 « 'U o < 5 j , i * - \ V » ll b p ^ oqu , , Uui ( , jikiuiis ( , «^ ch orank in a block of iron , niinilar Id it 111 hi / o , but ^ rojc-ctnifj ; from t \ ui n % lh 111 ffio rovoi-Mo < lir « ' «! tion . V , vUU-tii \ y , ho'iiit !; i >\ imui ' oti o ^ . ^ if ^ Hi ^ cA bl ' lhil cMitt ^ 'UD Wibfciotij rtftx ^ li crank undiilfl coiiiittivlmlaiiott movo in owpositn ^ iwoiiuhs . rnlal j Lv » t . V .-toi . tMa uxl « n « vu < . l , by « o uo »? iB , ni > u ^«^^ , wh , Ju > 1 ^ i'tj' -Mu-i !* ' ^ , «!!}' , » 'fl . n } $ mwl wffyyy . r'iTiK "' ' ' iion . . TuhI , Uio hiiiiid ri ) liitioiiHbj j > l . liat ox ' ihI . h Ix ^ Kvcmui tlio mol . ionH ol i-lio (• oUrtlcrlmliViK ' o Ailil'Mlo traiik MHtti'lialwbMth \ lu mot ' uttM oftho' ariUH'ftiiil 1 «){? h id wmlkin ^; itridviw ilui AMivly d (»^ n ofimilway locomotion , bt ) l \> m . ihetunwwiliv \ mhiuyt > w ^ UiH ^^ r ^^ ini , Jocoinolivo flvivit »( rt > v l ) ii > tJfc ) woro nutnvct to a violent . oHcillation , ulriotly aniilogoiiH to that wriggling ot tUo Bhouldora that iirieoa when wo wiilk iaat witliout inOvuigour aniis .

    continue , and a lateral force be impressed upon it to make it diverge towards the second position , a curvilinear motion is the necessary result ; and by making use of the original momentum ^ forc e is economized . If the truth of these conclusions respecting graceful movement be admitted , it cannot / 1 think , be doubted , that graceful form is that kind ot form which iye see best fitted to accomplish graceful movement . Were it qth , e > vvise ,. there would arise the incongruity that the two would either not iixeissoQiated at all , or that the one would habitually occur in the absence of the otheci both . vyhick alternatives being quite at , variance with , oiir

    experience , we are compelled to conclude that there exists the relataon $ hip indicated . Anyone hesitating to admit this ; will , I think , do so no longer on remembering that the animals which we consider graceful , —as deer , leopards , greyhounds , are those noted ; for fleetness and agility , and that those ! " ; We class , as ungraceful , —as elephants , bears , sloths , are those haying the faculty of locomotion but little developed . In the casexit the-greyhound ,. especially , we . we tha ^ the . particular modification of the canine type , in which the facility and economy of muscular motion have -been brought by habit to the greatest perfection , is the one which we call

    most graceful . .-How trees and inanimate objects should ever come to have this epithet applied to them ; wiU at first s ^ g ht seem difficult to explain . But ihe fact that we commonly , and , perhaps unavoidably regard all objects under a certain anthropomorphic aspect , will , I think , help us to understand ^ . The stiff branch of an oak-tree standing out at right angles from the ^ runk , gives " us a vague notioivof great force , expended to keep it in that pomti 6 h ;' arid we call it imgracefdl , on the same ground thtrt \ ie call Ihe feoldin ^ oiii ; an ariri at right angles to the body ungraceful . GonverBely , 'the lax drooping bou ' g ^ of ^ weeping-willow are vaguely associate * with lSJta ^ s ip easy attitudes—attitu ^ s requiring lftttfe effort to maintain t ^ ena ^ ana the t ^ m ffraceful . l > v which we describe these , we apply by metapbor to the , \ ylilpw .

    I may as well here > in a few lines , venture the bypothesis , that this notion of Grace has its subjective basis in Sympathy . The same faeulty which makes us shudder on seeing another in danger—which sometiifaes causes motion of our limbs o n seeing a struggle or a fall , makes us in a vague way participate in all the mttscular sensations which those around us are experiencing . When their motions are violent or awkward , we feel in a s % ht degree the disagreeable sensations which we should have were they our own . When they are easy , we sympathize with the pleasant sensations they imply in those exhibiting them .

    December 25, 1852.] The Leader. L^9

    December 25 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . l ^ 9

    Passages From A Boy's Epic. Xv. Olympus....

    PASSAGES FROM A BOY'S EPIC . XV . OLYMPUS . He ceast , but listening stood . The Princess , till the Strength of all the Worlds His arm upraising on the paler skies , Fronted the sea that snowed the rock-ribbed shore With wreaths of creamy spray . A summer wind Leaned on its breast , and whirled the watchet wavips In dimpling eddies round , till rising slow ,.. Through their blue depth a hollow shell appeartd , / Etherial , ample ; whose serene concave Was coloured like to fading sunset skies . Within the sihell , as in some airy bower Built by the twilight winds of rosy dew Ou , the pale confines of the morn and eye , , , . : $ tood mid the graceful children of the sea , " Ambrosial Aphrotlitu . Many sounds * , Of dulcet instruments invisible , And birds that sang this single sunset down , ' But never sang again to ' mortal cur , Accon ' ipaiued . But when she toucht the shore , ; And the white d : ui # hters of the WiUuUxuigvv ^ Cij , . ,,, Closed round her as uiouud the Moon tlu > st ) ars > Hlow sank the magic balk , amid the coil Of waters gurgling with a llute-like sound , ; r " Down to tlie silent cities of the sea . ' , ' Then to that Powef celestial and his Miitt ' . ' Anproiiphing , anno tl ; e QucefV of all fW ' . sjre ,, , Ye , iled in the gh > w of Uer owr ^ lovtjllnc ^ S j . A iintir atmosj ) hero that round her lay * ' : i : Like light , around the petuls of the rose , Ainl'thus hhe said : ' * O wolconie , fiistcr mine ! For ihon tirt worthy of that ; gtMltlc nanic , ' Ti » at liciiocfpr ' tli ill the golden ' hoinessfi / ilidivhll , j Pf . thq ^ rcat j ( j 1 o < 1 h tjiat oycr < rum [)! f < l liope . s , (| , ( , IIijavo U 4 I t )»< "C U } th «; . starry pahiccs , ¦ .,,,.. Wiluntlt ' iouithi ) Queen and Alutlier oi' ulL life , Shnlt lhul 1 tV » y Kihg . ¦' Thcrofol-e . o ' orbirtli . aBdlgrowth ; ' O ' er life tuul ildnth ; titui dnll ^ e uiidfatcr ; pfesi / le , A « lu lea ' d'U . ou Mun , while stately inusji : ntlls ; ; Down war ' ^ red f m rowii , aiul with myrtle blend ( , ' . ,,. T / hc I } iuvi 4 sliiujowiug his imperial brow , ( Till fairer . seasons fairer innnncrH bring , And rights » how clear , ainee Love the sovran might

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 25, 1852, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_25121852/page/19/